The First Doctor's Visit!

Yay! We're Pregnant!!!! The first month of trying, with moving and family coming to visit, who would've thought we would get pregnant right off the bat?!?! I picked up a pregnancy test on Father's Day, since I had been feeling a little "off" for about a week. Positive. I held off calling the doctor til Tuesday, the 20th of June, the actual day of my missed period, and took a second, positive, test.

The first week after the positive test was rough. I had pretty intense morning sickness, a roller coaster of "new expectant mom" emotions, and lots of fatigue and breast tenderness (more information than you need?). But excitement has taken over and some good advice from my grandmother helped me curb the morning sickness, so by the end of the week, I was learning to take the early symptoms in stride.

Trevor has been amazing throughout it all. Now, I'm assuming if you are reading this, that you have some knowledge of my husband. He is not, as you probably know, an excited dude. But I think, underneath his cool exterior, he is mega excited about the baby. He's been sweet and helpful and he seems to be enjoying reading the "expecting father" books. He makes sure I have protein at night and eat my Saltines in the morning (to help with my nausea). His patience, understanding and love has been truly wonderful for me, especially when I feel overwhelmed. I am a lucky girl.

Today was the first doctor's visit. Mom went with me, which was great because I was a nervous wreck and having her there for support was great! Nothing like a Mom to put the nerves at ease and hold your hand in the waiting room. I saw Dr. Schlichter at the Women's Healthcare Group. I love her. She was absolutely wonderful and super friendly and helpful. I was poked and prodded in all ways and given lots of advice, info and brochures to read. The important things from this first appointment were that I am 5 weeks along and the estimated due date is February 28th, 2007. My next appointment, at the end of July, we are going to try to listen for the heartbeat. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much about that because Dr. Schlichter says that 9 weeks is pretty early to hear it, but just the thought of hearing our baby's heartbeat is . . . well . . . overwhelming.

Perhaps the best part of seeing the doctor today was the sense I got of this pregnancy as something that is really happening. Sure, the morning sickness and fatigue is a constant reminder, but with no growing belly I have spent the last week feeling like a "pseudo-pregnant lady" and slinking around the baby aisles in Target feeling like I was going to be ambushed and kicked to the far end of the store by a mob of "legitimately pregnant" women. That feeling is mostly gone now. I feel excited and nervous and happy, and really, truly, pregnant.